Williamspoint Video Du Jour: Slow Down

April 8, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

slowdown

On April 6, 2009 my buddy down at Brooklyn11211 wrote (in regards to this post):

What is more wacky is why there is a sign for the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg.

To wit I replied:

It’s your ‘hood, dude— you tell me!

Which brings me to the above bit of signage. It is one of several such signs that some rugged individualist has seen fit to erect on Maspeth Avenue across the street from Cooper Park (which I should add is firmly located in the 11211 zip code). While the provenance of these signs is unknown the people I spoke to on this block agreed that “crazy drivers” deemed them necessary. What I wanted to know is if they work. So I took a leisurely stroll down the block to find out.

I suspect anyone who is reading this post and has the pleasure of interfacing with 311 (it’s a hit or miss affair— some operators are better than others) will agree that filing complaints in this manner seems to be a futile endeavor. This has often been my experience, anyway. But dial them anyway, take down the complaint number and forward it to your community board. Yes, this will entail some work on your part, dear readers, but I suspect we can all agree that one person— much less a child— hit by a speeding car is one too many.

Miss Heather

Williamspoint Photo Du Jour: Gentrification Lament

April 8, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Street Art, Williamsburg 

grittycity

From Woodpoint Road.

Miss Heather

New York Shitty Day Ender: Comfy Chair

April 7, 2009 ·
Filed under: Street Furniture, Williamsburg 

comfychair

From Manhattan Avenue.

Miss Heather

Dog Doo Signs Du Jour: For The Love Of Big Brother

April 7, 2009 ·
Filed under: Brooklyn, Williamsburg 

wearewatchingyou

wearewatchingyou2

keepnyclean

This winsome trio hails from none other than Maujer Street in East Williamsburg. Granted, the latter most does not purport to be “watching you” but it has a certain menacing quality I found noteworthy. Whoever crafted this sign not only took a great deal of time to scallop the edges (nice touch) but he (or she) also appears to be unaware that driving six nails and screws into a tree is probably as unhealthy— if not more s0— than getting showers of the golden variety from the local canines.

Speaking of unhealthy, I am going to close this post with one of the most hardcore dog doo deterrents I have ever beheld. It hails from Washington Avenue, 11238.

washingtonave

They raise ’em tough in Prospect Heights.

washingtonavetreepit

Damn.

Miss Heather

North Brooklyn Street Art Du Jour: You Gotta Have Heart

April 7, 2009 ·
Filed under: Street Art, Williamsburg 

heart

From Powers Street

Miss Heather

Williamsburg Video Du Jour: Sunday Afternoon On Manhattan Avenue

April 7, 2009 ·
Filed under: Recession, Williamsburg 

Today’s example of developer blight comes courtesy of a smallish lot on Manhattan Avenue just north of Grand Street. What initially caught my eye was the “gate” to this site gently listing back and forth in the breeze. Having had a considerable amount of experience with illegal weekend construction I figured there would be workers busy hammering, sawing and riveting. As you will see this ended up not being the case.

Public safety hazard or a new jungle gym for neighborhood youth? I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Miss Heather

Williamspoint Photos Du Jour: More Naughty Bits

April 7, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Street Art, Williamsburg 

godiswithus

Nassau Avenue

dreamofhappiness

pubesnekst

taint

dickchicken

slutlust

Metropolitan Avenue

There’s nothing in the world quite like north Brooklyn in the springtime.

Miss Heather

Found On The Southside

April 7, 2009 ·
Filed under: Street Art, Urban Artifact, Williamsburg 

Whenever I want to see something that makes me scratch my head and wonder:

What the fuck?

I head over to the Southside. It is not my intent to sound like I putting this great neighborhood down: nothing could be further from the truth. Of all the neighborhoods in all of Brooklyn only this bit of 11211 straddling the BQE even comes close to some of the oddities I find here in Greenpoint. And on that note follows is something I encountered at the junction of Borinquen Place, South 1st Street and Grand Street recently. I would presume it to be an art work of some kind. Or some hitherto unknown pagan deity. Who knows? Life is mysterious.

sculpture1

Here is a view of its head. If you ask me it resembles Homer Simpson crossed with Mr. Peanut.* On acid.

sculpture2

Here is a frontal view. As you can see our little fella has rather protuberant buttocks. Astroturf appears to have been employed as well. Speaking as someone who once was both a teaching fellow and teaching assistant I have to admit nothing like this ever found its way into my classroom. It’s a shame, really. Had some fresh-faced student proffered up something like this I probably would have had a lot more interest in teaching. So it goes.

In any case if this item tickles your fancy (or you’re looking for a gift for that hard-to-shop-for person) better get down there fast. I doubt this urban artifact will be without a home for long.

Miss Heather

*And bears more than a passing resemblance to the following, which is located on Metropolitan Avenue.

dreamofhappiness

New York Shitty Day Ender: Al Fresco Living

April 6, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Street Furniture, Williamsburg 

driggsavenuemattress

noparking

kitchenettewithsiding

futon

Driggs Avenue

decanters

Maspeth Avenue

fridge

South 1st Street

cot

Ainslie Street

legs

Metropolitan Avenue

Miss Heather



Williamsburg Photo Du Jour: Metropolitan Avenue

April 6, 2009 ·
Filed under: Advanced Life Forms, Street Art, Williamsburg 

tunnel

Another day, another tree twat. That’s life in the wacky 11211 for ya!

Miss Heather

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